Metallica’s James Hetfield Lands Role in ‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile’ Serial Killer Film

Metallica's James Hetfield has landed a role in the upcoming film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile. The film centers on the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, with Hetfield set to portray the officer who first arrested Bundy.

According to Deadline, Zac Efron will star as Bundy in the film, with Hetfield taking on the role of Officer Bob Hayward. Hayward was a Utah highway patrolman who arrested in Bundy in 1975 after pulling him over and discovering burglary tools in his car.

Hetfield has appeared in other films and TV series either as himself or serving as a narrator, but this serves as his first dramatic role playing a character.

If you're wondering how Hetfield landed the role, it's likely because the film's director Joe Berlinger, co-directed the Metallica documentary Some Kind of Monster. Berlinger has continued a close relationship with the band in the years since the film.

“Having spent hundreds of hours behind the scenes with James and the rest of Metallica, I have experienced his charisma and powerful presence close up,” says director Joe Berlinger in a statement. “It seemed only natural that he would bring that same power and magnetism to a dramatic role, so when he agreed to my pitch that he be in the movie, I was thrilled.”

In addition to Efron and Hetfield, the film also stars Lily Collins, John Malkovich, Jim Parsons, Haley Joel Osment and more. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is currently in production.